English Churchmen have received from God a special approval for their ancient Church, in spite of her sadly isolated position.
Having thus given, in Father Ignatius’s own words, an account of the alleged apparitions and miracles, I feel sure many will naturally ask me for my opinion of them. My opinion is simply this: I believe something was seen which Ignatius really did believe to be supernatural, but which appearance I firmly believe to have been nothing more or less than a practical joke performed by a certain young man, who never intended it to be taken for anything supernatural, in the serious manner with which it was taken.
With regard to the vision of the “Sacred Host,” I simply do not believe it at all. I believe that one of them imagined it, and told the other about it in some way, and that that other was only too ready to believe it. This is my firm conviction about the matter, and I hope that as I am no longer a nun I have not only the right to have an opinion of my own, but also a right to express it.
During my sojourn at Llanthony, I never saw anything supernatural, although there were some who ofttimes tried to work my mind up to such a state, that it was with difficulty something of the kind was not forced upon my heated imagination.
I recollect a somewhat ridiculous circumstance in this direction, that occurred on the “eve” of the “anniversary of the apparition of our Lady of Llanthony.”
We were watching the procession of the Shrine, and its accompanying and subsequent rites, when suddenly the reverend Mother exclaimed:
“I see something; it’s moving!”
“Where?” I asked, “for I cannot see anything.”
The Mother then pointed to the “Abbot’s Meadow.” There was something moving slowly, and I watched for a few moments, and then said: